Media processing apparatus and controlling method thereof

ABSTRACT

A media processing apparatus is provided. The media processing apparatus includes an interface unit which is connected to each of a plurality of terminal devices through a communication interface including a video channel, an audio channel, and a data channel, a processor which receives a control signal from a first terminal device having control rights, a control unit which notifies the first terminal device if there is an access attempt from at least one of a second terminal device and transfers the control rights to the second terminal device if a message to permit the transfer of the control rights is received from the first terminal device. Accordingly, control rights may be transferred and shared in a reasonable manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/907,513 filed Oct. 19, 2010, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2009-0115860, filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Nov. 27, 2009, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the exemplary embodiments relateto a media processing apparatus and a controlling method thereof, andmore particularly, to a media control apparatus which is connected to aplurality of terminal devices and allows effective transfer of controlrights between the terminal devices and a controlling method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of electronic technology, various types ofelectronic devices are developed and provided.

In particular, a display device such as a television is placed in almostevery room in the house including the living room. However, in mostcases, there is only one media processing apparatus which provides amedia signal.

Accordingly, a user has to move to a place in which a display deviceconnected to a media processing apparatus is installed in order to viewa media signal. To resolve such inconvenience, a media processingapparatus may be connected to each display apparatus so that a mediasignal which is being reproduced from a media processing apparatusinstalled in one room (ex. a living room) may be output through adisplay device installed in another room.

In this case, however, the authority of controlling the operation of amedia processing apparatus could be a problem.

If the first user uses a media processing apparatus in a living room andthe second user desires to reproduce the media processing apparatus inhis or her room at the same time, it should be determined to which userthe authority of the media processing apparatus will be granted. If thesecond user is allowed to control the media processing apparatus whilethe first use is still using the apparatus, the use of the first userwho is the initial user, may be unintentionally disturbed. On the otherhand, if the second user is not allowed to control the media processingapparatus until the first user completes using the apparatus, this mayinconvenience the second user.

Accordingly, a method for determining and sharing the authority ofcontrolling the media processing apparatus when a plurality of terminaldevices are connected to the media processing apparatus is required.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an aspect of one or more exemplary embodiments is toprovide a media processing apparatus which enhances user convenience bygranting authority and sharing the control of the media processingapparatus and a controlling method thereof.

According to an aspect of one or more exemplary embodiments, a mediaprocessing apparatus is provided. The media processing apparatusincludes a processor which receives a control signal from a firstterminal device having control rights, and a control unit which notifiesthe first terminal device if an access attempt is made by at least onesecond terminal device and transfers the control rights to the secondterminal device if a message to permit transfer of the control rights isreceived from the first terminal device.

The control unit may determine that the first terminal device refuses totransfer the control rights if a predetermined period of time elapsesafter the notification.

The control unit may transmit an error message to the second terminaldevice if the control unit determines that the first terminal devicerefuses to transfer the control rights.

The control unit may transmit an error message to the second terminaldevice if a message to refuse transfer of the control rights is receivedfrom the first terminal device.

The control unit may transfer the control rights to the second terminaldevice if an event which deprives the first terminal device of thecontrol rights occurs.

The media processing apparatus may further include a storage unit, andthe control unit may set priority of terminal devices based on an orderof access attempts if a number of terminal devices attempt to access themedia processing apparatus, may store the priority in the storage unit,and, if an event which deprives the terminal device of the controlrights occurs, the control unit sequentially transfers the controlrights to a next terminal device based on the priority.

The event may be at least one of a first event in which the terminaldevice having the control rights is turned off, a second event in whichthe connection between the terminal device having the control rights andthe media processing apparatus is cut off, and a third event in whichthe terminal device having the control rights terminates use of themedia processing apparatus.

The control unit may transfer the control rights to a third terminaldevice if there is an access attempt from the third terminal devicewhich is set to be in a master mode.

According to another aspect of one or more exemplary embodiments, amethod for controlling a media processing apparatus is provided. Themethod includes transmitting from a first terminal device having controlrights a control signal, notifying the first terminal device if anaccess attempt is made by at least one second terminal device, andtransferring the control rights to the second terminal device if thefirst terminal device allows transfer of the control rights.

The method may further include transmitting an error message to thesecond terminal device if a predetermined period of time elapses afterthe notifying.

The method may further include transmitting an error message to thesecond terminal device if a message informing refusal of transfer of thecontrol rights is received by the first terminal device.

The method may further include transferring the control rights to thesecond terminal device if an event for depriving the first terminaldevice of the control rights occurs.

The method may further include setting priority of terminal devicesbased on an order of access attempts if a plurality of terminal devicesattempt to access the media processing apparatus and sequentiallytransferring the control rights to a next terminal device based on thepriority if an event for depriving the control rights from a terminaldevice having the control rights occurs.

The event may be at least one of a first event where a terminal devicehaving the control rights is turned off, a second event where connectionbetween the terminal device having the control rights and the mediaprocessing apparatus is cut off, and a third event where the terminaldevice having the control rights terminates use of the media processingapparatus.

The method may further include transferring the control rights to athird terminal device if there is an access attempt from the thirdterminal device which is set to be in a master mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will be moreapparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a system according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a message inquiringauthority transfer in a system according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a mediaprocessing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a terminaldevice according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining a method for controlling a mediaprocessing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining a method for determining whether totransfer control rights of a media processing apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, analogous drawing reference numerals areused for analogous elements, even in different drawings. The mattersdefined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements,are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments. However, exemplary embodiments can be practiced withoutthose specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions orconstructions are not described in detail since they would obscure theapplication with unnecessary detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary system includes a media processingapparatus 100 and a plurality of terminal devices 200-1, 200-2, . . . ,200-n.

The terminal devices 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-n in FIG. 1 may bevarious kinds of devices which may output video or audio, such astelevision, PC, monitor, electronic frame, notebook computer, audioplayer, or speaker.

The media processing apparatus 100 represents an apparatus which mayoutput a media signal from various sources. Specifically, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 may be a DVD player, a Blu-ray disk player, aVCR, an audio player, or an MP3 player which reads out data from varioustypes of storage media and reproduces a media signal, or a set-top boxwhich receives and processes a broadcast signal.

The media signal means a signal which includes at least one of a videosignal and an audio signal, such as a television broadcast signal, a DVDreproduction signal, a Blu-ray disk reproduction signal, an audiosignal, a VCR reproduction signal, and photo image data.

A communication interface between each of the plurality of terminaldevices 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-n and the media processing apparatus100 is an interface including a video channel, an audio channel, and adata channel.

The video channel and the audio channel are interfaces totransmit/receive a video signal and an audio signal respectively, andthe data channel is an interface to transmit/receive various data suchas a control signal, a synchronization signal, USB data and an Ethernetsignal.

Specifically, the communication interface between each of the pluralityof terminal devices 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-n and the media processingapparatus 100 may be realized as an S-link interface.

The S-link interface is an interface which extends the function ofHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). The HDMI is a standard tomake it more convenient to use AV by transmitting a video/audio signaltogether with a control signal while maintaining compatibility with aDVI. The S-link interface has characteristics similar to those of theHDMI.

Each of the first terminal device 200-1 and the second terminal device200-2 is connected to the media processing apparatus 100, and thus theuser of the first terminal device 200-1 and the second terminal device200-2 may control the operation of the medial processing apparatus 100to receive a media signal. In this case, the user who starts using thedevice first or who has priority may have the control rights. The userwho does not have the control rights may be allowed only to output amedia signal provided by the media processing apparatus 100 or may notuse the media processing apparatus 100 at all.

As an example, the user of the first terminal device 200-1 may input acontrol signal for the media processing apparatus 100. If the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 is a DVD player, the user may input areproduction command by selecting a reproduction button.

In this case, the user using the first terminal device 200-1 and themedia processing apparatus 100 may input a control signal bymanipulating a key provided on each of the main body of the firstterminal device 200-1 or the media processing apparatus 100 or a remotecontroller.

If the first terminal device 200-1, not the media processing apparatus100, is manipulated by a remote controller or a key formed on the mainbody of the first terminal device, the first terminal device 200-1transmits the control signal input through a data channel connected tothe media processing apparatus 100. In this case, the control signalitself may be forwarded, or the control signal may be converted into acontrol command in a format corresponding to the media processingapparatus 100 and then transmitted. Such a control command will beregarded as a control command in the description below.

The media processing apparatus 100 performs operation corresponding tothe received control command, and if a media signal is generated as aresult, transmits the generated media signal to the first terminaldevice 200-1 using at least one of a video channel and an audio channel.Specifically, if the media signal is a moving image, both a videochannel and an audio channel may be used, if the media signal iscomposed of an audio signal, only an audio channel may be used, and ifthe media signal is composed of a video signal, such as a photo to bedisplayed on an electronic frame, only a video channel may be used.

Generally, the terminal device which transmits a control signal to usethe media processing apparatus 100 among the plurality of terminaldevices 200-1, 200-2, . . . , 200-n has control rights, but this is notalways the case.

If a user sets priority of the plurality of terminal devices 200-1,200-2, . . . , 200-n in advance, the control rights may be given to theterminal devices based on the set priority. The terminal device having alower priority may have the controlling power only when the terminaldevice having a higher priority is turned off or its connection with themedia processing apparatus is cut off.

If the first terminal device 200-1 has the control rights, and anotherterminal device, for example, the second terminal device 200-2 receivesa control signal from a user, the second terminal device 200-2 transmitsa control command to the media processing apparatus 100.

Subsequently, the media processing apparatus 100 recognizes theexistence of the first terminal device 200-1 which is in use, andtransmits an alarm message to the first terminal device 200-1. The alarmmessage may be transmitted via a data channel, a video channel or anaudio channel according to an exemplary embodiment.

If the media processing apparatus 100 is transmitting a video signal tothe first terminal device 200-1, the media processing apparatus 100renders the alarm message and multiplexes the rendered image, that is,the alarm message, with the video signal. Subsequently, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 transmits the video signal including the alarmmessage to the first terminal device 200-1. The first terminal device200-1 may provide the alarm message by performing scaling on the videosignal transmitted from the media processing apparatus 100 andoutputting it on the screen. The alarm message may include a message toinform that there is an attempt by another user to use the mediaprocessing apparatus 100, a message to ask whether or not to allowanother user to view a media signal, and a message to ask whether or notto transfer control rights to another user. The message may be providedas a text in various fonts or an image.

The media processing apparatus 100 may generate an alarm message as anaudio message, multiplex it with an audio signal, and provides it to thefirst terminal device 200-1 via an audio channel. Such an alarm messagemay be output through a speaker.

In addition, the media processing apparatus 100 may provide an alarmmessage to the first terminal device 200-1 via a data channel. That is,the media processing apparatus 100 may provide a command to display thealarm message or data regarding the alarm message to the first terminalapparatus 200-1. Accordingly, the first terminal device 200-1 mayconvert the alarm message into an On Screen Display (OSD), a renderingimage, or an audio message and output it.

The media processing apparatus 100 may include information regarding thesecond terminal device 200-2 in an alarming message. Accordingly, thefirst terminal device 200-1 may also be provided with informationregarding which device attempts to use the media processing apparatus100.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a message displayed on thefirst terminal device 200-1 according to an exemplary embodiment. InFIG. 2, the first terminal device 200-1 and the second terminal device200-2 are televisions, and the media processing apparatus 100 is aBlu-ray Disk Player (BDP). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second terminaldevice 200-2 may inform the first terminal device 200-1, that is, TV1,that it attempts to access the media processing apparatus, that is, theBDP, and display an alarm message 10 on the first terminal device 200-1which asks whether to transfer control rights to the second terminaldevice 200-2.

The user of the first terminal device 200-1 may select ‘Yes’ or ‘NO’ bymanipulating a remote controller or a key formed on the main body. Ifthe user selects ‘Yes’, a message to allow the transfer of the controlrights is generated and transmitted to the media processing apparatus100. Accordingly, the media processing apparatus 100 grants the secondterminal device 200-2 the control rights. Once the control rights aretransferred, the media processing apparatus 100 performs operationaccording to a control signal transmitted from the second terminaldevice 200-2.

If the user does not select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, or selects ‘No’, the firstterminal device 200-1 may perceive it as a refusal to transfer thecontrol rights and transmit a message informing of the refusal of thetransfer of the control rights to the media processing apparatus 100. Ifthe message informing the refusal of the transfer of the control rightsis received or no message is received for a predetermined period of timeafter the alarm message is transmitted to the first terminal device200-1, the media processing apparatus 100 may perceive it as a refusalto transfer the control rights and transmit an error message to thesecond terminal device 200-2. The error message may include informationthat the second terminal device 200-2 does not have the control rightsand information about which terminal currently possesses the controlrights. Such an error message may be transmitted to the second terminaldevice 200-2 via a data channel connected to the second terminal device200-2. The second terminal device 200-2 may transmit the received errormessage in a form of a video message or an audio message and output it.

FIG. 2 illustrates an alarm message which asks whether to transfer thecontrol rights according to an exemplary embodiment, but the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 may output an alarm message which asks whetherto continue to provide a media signal to the first terminal device200-1. If a selection signal for providing the media signal is receivedfrom a user using the first terminal device 200-1, the media processingapparatus 100 may provide the same signal as the one provided to thefirst terminal device 200-1 to the second terminal device 200-2.However, if the first terminal device 200-1 sends no response orexpresses refusal to use the media processing apparatus 100, no signalmay be transmitted to the second terminal device 200-2.

In another exemplary embodiment, a media signal may be provided to thesecond terminal device 200-2 without permission from the first terminaldevice 200-1. However, as long as the first terminal device 200-1possesses the control rights, the second terminal device 200-2 may notcontrol the operation of the media processing apparatus 100.

The media processing apparatus 100 may transfer control rights to thesecond terminal device 200-2, if there is an event which cancels thecontrol rights of the first terminal device 200-1.

Such an event may be set in various occasions. For example, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 transfers control rights to the second terminaldevice 200-2 if one of the following events occurs: the first event inwhich the first terminal device 200-1 is turned off, the second event inwhich the connection between the first terminal device 200-1 and themedia processing apparatus 100 is cut off, and the third event in whichthe first terminal device 200-1 terminates the use of the mediaprocessing apparatus.

The media processing apparatus 100 may determine whether the first eventor the second event occurs by periodically monitoring the state of thefirst terminal device 200-1. That is, the media processing apparatus 100may periodically transmit a query to the first terminal device 200-1through a data channel and determine that the first event or the secondevent occurs if no corresponding acknowledgement is received.

The media processing apparatus 100 may determine whether or not thethird event occurs by determining whether a certain kind of controlsignal is received from the first terminal device 200-1. That is, if acommand to stop reproducing a media signal or a command to turn off themedia processing apparatus 100 is received, it is determined that themedia processing apparatus 100 will no longer be in use, and the controlrights may be transferred to the second terminal device 200-2.

In the above exemplary description, control rights transfer only betweenthe first terminal device 200-1 and the second terminal device 200-2 andthe media processing apparatus 100 is explained. However, if there areother terminal devices, control rights may be transferred in ananalogous way to other terminal devices. If more than three terminaldevices transmit a control signal to the media processing apparatus 100,the media processing apparatus 100 may grant priority based on the orderof access, that is, the order of transmitting the control signal.Accordingly, if the first terminal device 200-1 loses its controlrights, the media processing apparatus 100 transfers the control rightsto the terminal device having the next priority, and so on.

If more than two subsequent terminal devices attempt to access the mediaprocessing apparatus 100, the media processing apparatus 100 maytransmit an alarm message including information on each terminal deviceto the first terminal device 200-1. Accordingly, the first terminaldevice 200-1 may select a terminal which will receive control rightsfrom among a plurality of terminal devices. The information regardingthe selected terminal device may be transmitted to the media processingapparatus 100 via a data channel, and the media processing apparatus 100may transfer control rights to the terminal device according to thereceived information.

On the other hand, if there is a terminal device which operates in amaster mode from among a plurality of terminal devices 200-1, 200-2, . .. , 200-n, the terminal device may be set to have control rights. Themaster mode represents a mode where a password or an ID of a user or anadministrator may be set and registered, and thus the master mode hasabsolute authority regardless of an access order. If there is a terminaldevice which operates in the master mode, other terminal devices mayuser the media processing apparatus only under the control of theterminal mode in the master mode.

For instance, suppose that the second terminal device 200-2 operates inthe master mode in the system illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case, evenif the first terminal device 200-1 has control rights, the controlrights are immediately transferred to the second terminal device 200-2if the second terminal device 200-2 inputs a certain selection signal,or simply, the second terminal device 200-2 is turned on. Whether totransfer the control rights is determined by the media processingapparatus 100. Once authentication information necessary to acknowledgea terminal device as the terminal device in the master mode is receivedfrom the second terminal device 200-2, the media processing apparatus100 checks whether the received authentication information is consistentwith pre-registered authentication information. Upon confirming that thereceived authentication information is consistent with thepre-registered authentication information, the second terminal device200-2 is recognized as the terminal device in the master mode, and otherterminal devices operate only according to the control signal input bythe second terminal device 200-2. In this case, a message informing ofthe appearance of the terminal device which operates in the master modemay be provided to other terminal devices. The authenticationinformation includes an ID or a password pre-registered by a user, orany information which may identify the user.

In order to support the master mode, the media processing apparatus 100may store authentication information and user interface (UI) informationfor setting the master mode. Every time that a control signal istransmitted from each terminal device, the media processing apparatus100 may ask a user whether or not to enter the master mode by providingUI information inquiring whether or not to set a master mode to theterminal device which transmits the control signal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the media processing apparatus 100 comprises aninterface unit 110, a processor 120, a control unit 130, and a storageunit 140. FIG. 3 illustrates only the minimum number of elementsnecessary to explain the technical feature of an exemplary embodiment,and thus other elements may be further included depending on theapparatus type of the media processing apparatus 100.

For instance, if the media processing apparatus 100 is realized as abroadcast reception apparatus such as a set-top box, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 may further include a turner, demodulator, andequalizer. The control unit 130 may control the turner to select abroadcast signal in a desired frequency bandwidth. The selectedbroadcast signal may be demodulated and equalized by the demodulator andthe equalizer respectively, and then processed to become a media signalin a format corresponding to each terminal device by the processor 120.

Alternatively, if the media processing apparatus is realized as a mediareproducing apparatus which reproduces data stored in a storage mediumsuch as a DVD player, Blu-ray disk player, or a VCR, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 may further comprise a mounting unit whichmounts the storage medium and a reader which reads out data recorded inthe mounted storage medium. The data may be converted to a media signalin a format corresponding to each terminal device.

The operation and configuration of the above exemplary elements havebeen explained above, and thus no further description will be provided.

The interface unit 110 is connected to each terminal device 200-1,200-2, . . . , 200-n (depicted in FIG. 1) via a communication interfaceincluding a video channel, an audio channel, and a data channel.

The processor 120 performs operation according to a control signalreceived from the terminal device having control rights from among aplurality of terminal devices. Specifically, the processor may performsignal conversion under the control of the control unit 130 whichreceives a control signal. For instance, if a media reproduction signalis input, the media signal is generated by detecting data from anexternal broadcast station or a connected storage medium.

The control unit 130 transfers control rights according to the order ofaccess attempts by each terminal device. That is, if there is an accessattempt from at least one of the second terminal device from among aplurality of terminal devices, the first terminal device, whichcurrently has the control rights, is notified of the access attempt.Such notification may be delivered using various kinds of alarm messageas explained above. On the other hand, a message informing that thefirst terminal device has the control rights may be transmitted to thesecond terminal device that requests access.

Subsequently, if a message allowing control rights transfer is receivedfrom the first terminal device, the control unit 130 transfers thecontrol rights to the second terminal device. That is, operation is thenperformed according to the control signal input from the second terminaldevice.

However, if a message refusing to transfer control rights is receivedfrom the first terminal device, or no message is received from the firstterminal device for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 130does not transfer control rights to the second terminal device. In thiscase, the control unit 130 may transmit an error message to the secondterminal device.

If the first terminal device does not transfer control rights, thecontrol unit 130 may periodically monitor whether an event forforfeiting the control rights of the first terminal device occurs. Ifpower is turned off or connection is cut off while the first terminaldevice does not transfer the control rights, or a specific command toterminate control is transmitted from the first terminal device, thecontrol unit 130 transfers the control rights to the second terminaldevice. In this case, a message informing that the control rights havebeen transferred to the second terminal device may be transmitted to thesecond terminal device so that a user knows that the media processingapparatus 100 is now controllable by the second terminal device.

If there is an access attempt from the third terminal device which isset to be in a master mode, or the second terminal device which hasattempted to access but was denied, is set to be in the master mode, thecontrol rights are immediately transferred to the third terminal deviceor the second terminal device that is set to be in the master mode. Inthis case, a message informing that the control rights are no longeravailable may be transmitted to the first terminal device.

The storage unit 140 may store various kinds of data. Specifically, thestorage unit 140 may store rendering data to visualize various messages,authentication information pre-registered to set a master mode, andinformation regarding priority given to each terminal device. FIG. 3illustrates only one storage unit 140, but the number, the type, and thelocation of the storage unit 140 may vary according to an exemplaryembodiment.

If a plurality of terminal devices attempt to access the mediaprocessing apparatus 100, the control unit 130 may set priority of theterminal devices based on the order of access attempts and store dataregarding the priority in the storage unit 140. Accordingly, if an eventwhere the first terminal device loses the control rights occurs, thecontrol rights are transferred to the next terminal device based on thepriority stored in the storage unit 140.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a terminaldevice according to an exemplary embodiment. Each terminal device 200-1,200-2, . . . , 200-n illustrated in the system of FIG. 1 may have ananalogous configuration as that of the exemplary terminal device 200illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, the terminal device 200 comprises an interface unit210, a signal processing unit 220, an output unit 230, a control unit240, and an input unit 250.

The interface unit 210 may be connected to the interface unit 110 of themedia processing apparatus 110 (shown in FIG. 3) via a communicationinterface including a video channel, an audio channel, and a datachannel.

The signal processing unit 220 converts the media signal transmittedthrough the interface unit 210 into an appropriate output format, andthe output unit 230 outputs the converted data on a screen or through aspeaker. Accordingly, a user may view various types of media signals.

The control unit 240 controls the operation of each element in theterminal device 200, and the input unit 250 receives a selection signalinput from a user and transmits the signal to the control unit 240.

The user of the terminal device 200 may input a control signal for themedia processing apparatus 100 by manipulating a remote controller or akey formed on the main body of the terminal device 200.

The input unit 250 transmits the input control signal to the controlunit 240.

The control unit 240 reconfigures the received control signal to acontrol signal in a format corresponding to the media processingapparatus 100 and then transmits the reconfigured signal to theinterface unit 210.

Accordingly, control rights of the terminal device 200 may be grantedfor the first time by the media processing apparatus 100 or may betransferred. If an alarm message or an error message is transmitted fromthe media processing apparatus 100, the control unit 240 controls thesignal processing unit 220 and the output unit 230 to output thetransmitted message. In this case, if the media processing apparatus 100multiplexes the message with a video signal or an audio signal itself,the message may be output while the received media signal is processed.On the other hand, if the media processing apparatus 100 transmits themessage data through a data channel, the signal processing unit 220 mayoutput the data by rendering the message data or converting the datainto an audio message.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart provided to explain a method for controlling amedia processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 5, if there is the first terminal device havingcontrol rights (S510:Y), and a control signal is received from the firstterminal device (S520:Y), operation is performed according to thecontrol signal (S530). In this case, the first terminal device havingthe control rights refers to a terminal device which operates in amaster mode, or a terminal device which has transmitted a controlsignal.

If there is an access attempt from another terminal device (S540), thefirst terminal device is notified (S550), and it is determined whetherthe first terminal device gives permission to transfer control rights tothe second terminal device (S560). If the permission by the firstterminal device is confirmed, the control rights are transferred toanother terminal device (S570), and operation is performed according tothe control signal from another terminal device from that time on.

If there is no first terminal device having control rights, the controlrights are given to the terminal device who attempts to access theapparatus for the first time (S580, S590).

Accordingly, control rights may be granted and shared in a reasonablemanner.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 5 in detail, the third terminal devicewhich operates in a master mode may appear. In this case, the thirdterminal device has control rights regardless of the permission by thefirst terminal device. That is, if a control signal is transmitted fromthe third terminal device which is preset to be in a master mode, or thesecond terminal device is set to be in a master mode, the mediaprocessing apparatus 100 operates according to the control signal fromthe third or the second terminal device instead of the first terminaldevice. In this case, a message informing of the appearance of theterminal device which operates in the master mode, may be provided tothe first terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining a method for transferring controlrights in the media processing apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, if there is an access attempt from a terminaldevice (S610), it is determined whether there is an event for deprivingcontrol rights from the terminal device which currently has the controlrights (S620). Such an event includes the case in which the firstterminal device having the control rights agrees to transfer the controlrights to another terminal device as illustrated for example in FIG. 5.The event also includes turning the power off, cutting the connectionoff, and exiting the apparatus.

Subsequently, if it is determined that event for depriving controlrights from the terminal device which currently has the control rightsoccurs, the control rights are transferred to the terminal device whichnewly attempts to access the apparatus (S630). In this case, a messageinforming the transfer of the control rights to, for example, the secondterminal device 200-2, may be transmitted to all terminal devicesconnected to the media processing apparatus 100.

If the above event does not occur, the media processing apparatus 100transmits an error message to the terminal device which attempts toaccess the apparatus (S640). In this case, the error message may includevarious messages such as requesting the device to be on a standby untilthe first terminal device ends the use of the apparatus.

According to the above various exemplary embodiments, control rights maybe transferred and shared in a reasonable manner among a plurality ofterminal devices.

Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, itwould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may bemade without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media processing apparatus, comprising: aninterface configured to connect to a plurality of terminal devicesresulting in a plurality of connected terminal devices; a controllerconfigured to receive access attempts from the plurality of theconnected terminal devices, select one of the plurality of the connectedterminal devices to control the media processing apparatus based on theaccess attempts received from the plurality of the connected terminaldevices and receive a control signal from the selected terminal devicethrough the interface; and a processor configured to perform anoperation corresponding to the control signal received through theinterface, wherein the access attempts from each of the plurality of theconnected terminal devices comprises requests to control the mediaprocessing apparatus, wherein, in response to the controller determiningthat a first connected terminal device is being disconnected, thecontroller selects a second connected terminal device from among theplurality of the connected terminal devices according to an order inwhich the access attempts are received in the media processingapparatus, and receives the control signal to control the mediaprocessing apparatus from the second terminal device and generates afirst alarm message to be transmitted to the second connected terminaldevice to inform the second connected terminal device of the controlright and a second alarm message to at least one other terminal devicefrom among the plurality of the connected terminal devices to informthat the second connected terminal device has the control rights, andwherein the media processing apparatus receives a first control signal,which is an access attempt from among the access attempts, from thefirst connected terminal, and subsequently, receives a second controlsignal, which is the access attempt from among the access attempts, fromthe second connected terminal.
 2. The media processing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine ifthe first connected terminal device is being disconnected byperiodically monitoring a connection with the first connected terminaldevice.
 3. The media processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein theplurality of terminal devices are user devices configured to receiveinput from respective users.
 4. The media processing apparatus of claim1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that aconnection with the first connected device is cut off, and wherein, inresponse to the controller determining that the connection with thefirst connected device is cut off, the processor is configured toperform another operation corresponding to another control signalreceived from the second terminal device corresponding to the accessattempt based on the order.
 5. A media processing apparatus, comprising:an interface configured to connect to a plurality of devices resultingin a plurality of connected devices; a controller configured to: receivecontrol signals from the plurality of the connected devices, whereineach of the control signals comprise a request to control the mediaprocessing apparatus such that only one of the plurality of theconnected devices controls the media processing apparatus at aparticular point in time; select a first signal from among the pluralityof control signals based on a criteria granted by the received controlsignals, wherein the selected first signal corresponds to a first devicefrom among the plurality of the connected devices, and in response todetecting a disconnection with the first device, selecting a secondsignal from among the plurality of control signals based on the criteriagranted by the received control signals, wherein the selected secondsignal corresponds to a second device from among the plurality of theconnected devices and generating a first alarm message to be transmittedto the second connected terminal device to inform the second connectedterminal device of the control rights and a second alarm message to atleast one other terminal device from among the plurality of theconnected terminal devices informing that the second connected terminaldevice has the control rights; and a processor configured to performoperations corresponding to the first control signal and the secondcontrol signal selected by the controller, wherein the criteriacomprises at least one of: granting the control of the media processingapparatus to one of the plurality of the connected devices selectedbased on an order of a receipt of the control signals and granting thecontrol to said one of the plurality of connected devices based on setpriorities for each of the plurality of connected devices, and whereinthe media processing apparatus receives the first control signal fromamong the control signals, from a first connected device from among theplurality of connected devices, and subsequently, receives a secondcontrol signal from among the control signals, from a second connectedterminal from among the plurality of connected devices.
 6. The mediaprocessing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to periodically monitor an event which forfeits controlrights of the first device with respect to the media processingapparatus.
 7. The media processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein, inresponse to the controller detecting an event comprising at least one ofa power turn off or a connection cut off with the first device, thecontroller transfers control rights with respect to the media processingapparatus to the second device.
 8. The media processing apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to control theinterface to transmit the first alarm message to the second deviceindicating that the second device has the control rights.
 9. The mediaprocessing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to: control the interface to periodically transmit a query tothe first device and detect an occurrence of the event based on notreceiving a corresponding acknowledgement.
 10. The media processingapparatus of claim 5, wherein the media processing apparatus is a mediareproducing apparatus further comprising a reader configured to read outmedia data.
 11. A method of controlling a media processing apparatus,the method comprising: receiving a first control signal from a connectedfirst terminal device having control rights of the media processingapparatus among a plurality of terminal devices which are connected tothe media processing apparatus; performing an operation, by a processorof the media processing apparatus, corresponding to the received firstcontrol signal; detecting a disconnection with the connected firstterminal device; and receiving a second control signal from a connectedsecond terminal device based on an order where access attempts from thefirst terminal device and the second terminal device are received in themedia processing apparatus in response to the detected disconnectionwith the first terminal device, wherein the first control signal and thesecond control signal are signals for controlling the media processingapparatus, wherein the access attempts from each of the first terminaland the second terminal device comprises a request to control the mediaprocessing apparatus, and wherein the media processing apparatusreceives a first control signal, which is an access attempt from amongthe access attempts, from the first connected terminal, andsubsequently, receives a second control signal, which is the accessattempt from among the access attempts, from the second connectedterminal, wherein the media processing apparatus generates a first alarmmessage to be transmitted to a controlling connected terminal whichobtains control rights to the media and a second alarm message to betransmitted to other connected terminals from among the plurality ofterminals to inform said other connected terminals that said controllingconnected terminal has the control rights.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising: in response to the detected disconnection with thefirst terminal device, selecting the second terminal device based on theorder of the receiving of the access attempt signals from the pluralityof terminal devices.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the detectingthe disconnection with the first terminal device comprises: periodicallytransmitting a query to the first terminal device; and in response tonot receiving a response to the transmitted query within a preset periodof time, detecting that the disconnection with the first device hasoccurred, wherein the disconnection with the first device comprises atleast one of a power off of the first device and a connection cut offwith the first device.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the firstdevice and the second device are user terminals configured to receiveuser commands to generate the first control signal and the secondcontrol signal to control the media processing apparatus and to generateaccess attempt signals to obtain the control rights of the mediaprocessing apparatus.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:the media processing apparatus reproducing audio data based on the firstcontrol signal from the first terminal, and in response to the controlrights being transferred to the second terminal, reproducing the audiodata based on the second control signal from the second terminal. 16.The media processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the controller isfurther configured to control the interface to transmit the generatedsecond alarm message to each of said other terminals from among theplurality of terminal devices, the controller of the media processingapparatus determines the order and grants the control rights to theterminal device from the plurality of terminal devices which are remotefrom the media processing apparatus.
 17. The media processing apparatusof claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal devices are connected tothe media processing apparatus using an S-link interface, wherein thecontroller generates a third alarm message for the first connectedterminal indicating that the second terminal device requests theauthority to control the media processing apparatus, and wherein theaccess attempts and the control signal are received by the mediaprocessing apparatus via the S-link interface and the media processingapparatus provides at least one of audio and video data via the S-linkinterface to at least two of the plurality of connected terminaldevices.